CLAS 1003 - Games, Festivals and Leisure in Greece and Rome

This course surveys the different ways in which Greeks and Romans shaped their lives in the private and the public domain, exploring the ways in which cultural, philosophical and social views impacted on everyday life. The emphasis is on the rise of mass entertainment in fifth century Athens (Greece) and Republican and Imperial Rome. The first half of this course will look into the question of how the first mass forms of entertainment - the sporting competition and the theatrical festival - developed within the poleis of 6th and 5th century Greece and how this affected the concept of citizenship, to be compared with the notions of the ideal citizen of philosophers. The second half of the course will explore both public and private life from the Late Republic into the Roman Empire. Here we examine the different values imposed by the elite upon the concept of dignitas (prestige through public office) in contrast to private otium (luxurious leisure). Other important aspects concern private banquets (social and political networking), and the public spectacle, such as gladatorial combats and chariot races, which became highly politicised in the Empire and exploited by emperors.